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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011_0517_MeetingMinutes_APPROVED Meeting Minutes-Approved as Amended 7/19/11 Mayor's Advisory Committee For Equal Access(MACFEA) Tuesday, May 17, 2011 Mo'ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2A/B 4444 Rice Street, Lihu'e, HI 96766 Members present: Rita Manriquez - State Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board (STBIAB), Linda Nuland-Ames - Director RSVP, COK Elderly Affairs, El Doi - Kaua'i Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC); Roberta Eiben (12:00- 1:27 pm)-Consumer Elena Costales - Consumer, KCIL Volunteer; Laura Burman (12:11-1:05 pm) - Director Hawai'i Red Cross, Rhoda Rojas- Hawai'i Center for Independent Living-Kaua'i (HCIL), Ana Valdez - Family Advocate, Dawn Cummings (12:00 pm - 1:27 pm) - Family Advocate; Dr. Lucy Miller (12:11 - 1:51 pm) - DCAB (Disability and Communication Access Board) Board member, Betty Bell - Kaua'i Federation for the Blind. Staff members also present: Christina Pilkington -ADA_Coordinator,_Marc Guyot -_Deputy_,_- Deleted:Christiana County Attorney, Barbara Davis - Support Clerk, Paula Morikami - Boards & Commissions Administrative Aide. Captioner: Heather Theriaque- Caption First. Members absent or excused: Kathy English-Hawai'i Disability Rights Center, Sharry Glass-Advocate, Teacher/Trainer. Guests: Mayank Bishnoi, intern in the Mayor's Office, ord n Valdez-2011_Muscular ,- Deleted:Jordan Dystrophy Association Goodwill Ambassador Call to Order Chair El Doi called the meeting to order at 12:02 pm and welcomed Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr., to address the MACFEA committee on his Holo Holo 2020 Vision. Business o Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr.'s Holo Holo Vision Presentation Mayor Carvalho began by thanking everyone for their work and representation on the Mayor's Advisory Committee which is an important committee for him. In sharing his Holo Holo 2020 Vision, the Mayor pointed out that the logo, which includes a slipper, a bicycle and an electric car, was developed to brand this vision as moving forward; the initiative is for people to want to jump on board and become a part of this vision while growing Kaua'i responsibly. The five areas that this Administration has focused on is 1) supporting our economy, 2) sustainability, 3) planning wisely for our future, 4) caring for our communities which include our families, our residents and our tourists and, 5) customer service. After explaining the structure of the Administrative Office, Mayor Carvalho pointed out how he and the Managing Director, the Office of Boards& Commissions and the Communications Office are moving towards building a strong working relationship with MACFEA-May 17,2011 Page 1 the County Council, which is the Legislative branch of our County government, and being more accessible to the people by creating a truly user-friendly government. Mayor Carvalho discussed many of the 38 projects covered under the Holo Holo 2020 Vision which have been assigned to various departments, some of which have shared responsibilities between the County, State and the Federal governments. The Holo Holo 2020 vision calls for all organizations, businesses, residents and visitors on Kaua'i to be part of creating an island that is sustainable, values our native culture, has a thriving and healthy economy and has a reasonable and user-friendly local government -one which will grow Kaua'i responsibly. In response to questions from the membership, Mayor Carvalho agreed to look into 1) accessibility of high-speed communications in all of the County's meeting spaces, 2)job opportunities for people with disabilities, 3) a more equitable paratransit schedule; 4) County subsidized bus passes for people with disabilities Chair Doi called the meeting back to order with 10 members present Approval of Agenda Ms. Bell moved to approve the agenda as circulated. Ms. Valdez seconded the motion. Motion carried 10:0 Approval of March 15,2011 Minutes Ms. Manriquez moved to approve the minutes as circulated. Ms. Bell seconded the motion. Motion carried 10:0 Business (continued) o Suggestions from MACFEA Members on Recommendations for Goals and Objectivesfor 2011/12 Fiscal Year(deferred 1/18/11) Action: Ms. Rojas moved to change the meetings from a bimonthly basis to a monthly basis. Ms. Eiben seconded the motion Ms. Valdez said because she teaches at Kaua'i Community College, it would be difficult for her to skip classes on a monthly basis. Ms. Pilkington said if the committee felt there was enough business to have a monthly meeting, the staff would definitely support their efforts. Dr. Lucy suggested one of the goals for the coming fiscal year would be for the committee to either provide education to the various departments or come up with something to advise the Mayor or whoever is in charge of facility planning regarding communication access. Ms. Nuland-Ames said around eight years ago the County was involved in various lawsuits, transition plans and education for every department but there is not nearly that Jevel of activity right now. Also it seems there is less problem of achieving a quorum____--- Deleted:type of business MACFEA-May 17,2011 Page 2 now that we meet every other month. As to budget, it is already locked in for fiscal year 2011-2012 so MACFEA can't add new projects to it. However, outreach and education to make communications more accessible could be considered without impacting the budget. Motion to change to a bimonthly meeting failed 1 aye (Rojas):9 nayes ACTION: Ms. Bell moved that MACFEA consider the Complete Streets plan for the County at the next meeting. Ms. Manriquez seconded the motion. Motion carried 10:0. (Ms. Pilkington to ask Bev Brody who spearheads the Complete Streets plan to address the committee in July) o Results of ADA Coordinator meeting with Mayor Carvalho regarding crosswalk enhancement in Koloa, accessible crosswalks and bus stops at or near all schools and libraries, accessibility of the Lydgate Beach Park pavilion stage and the recommended surface for Kamalani playground 1. Crosswalk enhancements in the vicinity of Koloa School The Department of Public Works will be establishing a new cross walk fronting the existing bus stop at Koloa School that will connect the bus stop pad via a painted route in the public right of way on both sides of the street. Accessible connections(ramps) and traff ic calming elements (embedded lights)will be installed at another Po'ipu Road crosswalk to allow for safer accessibility to the school and library. Public Works will also be addressing safety issues at the elevated portions of the existing sidewalk by constructing a railing or some kind of curb protection. 2. Lydgate Beach Park pavilion stage access The County will continue to use the hydraulic lift as an interim program access solution at the Lydgate Beach Park pavilion stage. However, the Department of Parks& Recreation will initiate a review for the design and cost for constructing a permanent ramp to the stage for consideration and funding in the 2012-13 fiscal year Capital Improvement Budget. 3. Kamalani Park playground The Department of Parks& Recreation Department will be replacing the existing wood chip surface at Kamalani Playground with a vinyl product that looks like grass. This vinyl surface is similar to the playground surface that is currently installed at the Puhi and Omao Parks and Wilcox Elementary School. Due to budget constraints the County will install the ASTM and ADA compliant vinyl surface in two phases. Phase one will be completed in the 2011-2012 fiscal year and connect a route to the play elements in the Kamalani "tot lot". The second phase which is planned for fiscal year 2012-2013 will complete the surface installation in the remaining playground area. MACFEA-May 17,2011 Page 3 4. All-Terrain Chairs The County is in the process of purchasing replacement Landeez All-Terrain chairs at Lydgate, Po'ipu, and Salt Pond Beach Parks to provide continued beach access to the beach parks for people with mobility challenges. Action: Ms. Bell moved to receive the report. Ms. Manriquez seconded the motion. Motion carried 10:0. o The organization and composition of the MACFEA membership which requires that the Mayor have final approval of candidate selection Attorney Guyot explained that the Mayor is able to create advisory committees pursuant to the charter which gives him the final approval of candidate selection. There was discussion on the difference between holding a public hearing to make changes to the rules versus placing something on the agenda for public comment that does not affect the Committee's rules. Action: A motion was made and seconded that the Mayor retain the final approval of candidate selection; both the motion and second were withdrawn because there was no change to the rules. o Feedback from the MACFEA membership on emergency preparedness for people with disabilities Ms. Pilkington explained that prior to leaving the meeting Ms. Burman had asked that this item to be placed on the July agenda. Action: Ms. Manriquez moved to defer this item to the July meeting. Ms. Nuland-Ames seconded the motion. Motion carried 8:0 Reports o DCAB report for April, 201 land May, 2011 -Dr. Lucy Dr. Lucy said the current session of the Legislature has ended and two pieces of legislation passed which are on the Governor's desk, he is not expected to veto either one. The first relates to service animals which will update the law to comply with the Federal ADA guidelines and firm up the language by taking out a lot of the confusion and ambiguity. The second piece of legislation is on the placement of the parking placards for motor vehicles. DCAB's request for a$1 increase in the driver's license or car registration to help make the special permits more self-sustainable did not make it through but the Department of Motor Vehicles request for a fee hike did and DCAB is planning to work with them to see if a portion of that fee can help cover the cost of the placards. MACFEA-May 17,2011 Page 4 o Members' reports Ms. Bell said the Federation for the Blind has been working with Ryan at the State Building to get a bench which would be bolted down so it can't be moved around and hopefully with a shelter for the area where they wait for the paratransit bus. By March, 2012, ATMs will have to be accessible to the blind by using some type of an earphone because even with Braille it is pretty easy to make a very costly mistake. Also there is an artist named Naomi Olsen who is preparing a collage of photographs of the blind of Hawai'i called "Seeing from the Heart". We have asked her for a photograph that we can take to the national convention in Orlando in July because she has included people from Kaua'i in her collage. Ms. Manriquez reported that the State Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board held their meeting on May 13 and Dr. Rossi from the University of Hawai'i, who is doing a concussion study, reported that there are more girls with sports related concussions than boys. Ms. Nuland-Ames thanked the Office of Boards and Commissions for sponsoring a wonderful seminar on parliamentary procedures. The handouts from that seminar bring a lot of clarity to the structure and empower the people who attend various committee meetings. Ms. Rojas reported that in March she had talked with the Mayor and the Shadow (Jerome Freitas) and recommended the County put better signage at the crosswalk on Rice Street by the County Building. The Mayor says they will now reconstruct the crosswalks in that area to make them more accessible. Ms. Valdez said the Muscular Dystrophy Association has a support group meeting on June 251"at Smith's Tropical Paradise which will be an ADA accessible excursion of the area; anyone or any family member who has a neuromuscular disease is encouraged to attend. Ms. Doi said the Developmental Disabilities Council has begun to work on the next legislative forum which she believes is scheduled for Thursday, September 22. Action: Ms. Nuland-Ames moved to adjourn the meeting at 2:00 pm. Ms. Bell seconded the motion. Motion carried 7:0 Respectfully submitted by: Barbara Davis, Staff Support ( )Approved as circulated ( )Approved as amended MACFEA-May 17,2011 Page 5